Application Procedures

The SDSU Admissions Office processes applications on a rolling basis. Students are encouraged to apply well in advance (six to ten months) of the semester they wish to attend in order to arrange housing, apply for financial assistance, and to attend new student orientation/early registration programs.

All applicants must submit the following to be considered for admission:

Admission Application

$20 Application Fee
If you have previously attended SDSU or another South Dakota public university as a degree-seeking student, you are not required to pay the application fee to SDSU.

Official High School Transcript

Official Report of ACT Scores

In addition, all transfer applicants must provide:

Official College Transcript(s)
You must request official transcripts from all non-regental schools you have previously attended. You do not need to have transcripts sent from other SD Regental universities. All transcripts should be sent from the issuing institution directly to the SDSU Admissions Office. If you are currently enrolled at another institution, you may send partial transcripts and be considered for provisional admission until the final transcript arrives.

Upon admission to the University and prior to enrolling for classes, all new applicants are required to provide proof of the Board of Regents required immunizations. This form will be given to students prior to their enrolling at SDSU.

Undergraduate Admission Requirements

SDSU offers all educational programs, material, and service to all people without discrimination based on race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, gender, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, age, disability, or veteran status.

3 years of Social Scienceor ACT Social Studies/Reading sub-test score of 17 or aboveor AP Social Studies score of 3 or above

1 year of Fine Arts for students graduating from South Dakota high schoolsor AP Fine Arts score of 3 or above

For students graduating from high schools in states that do not require completion of courses in fine arts for graduation, high school level non-credit fine arts activity will be accepted.

At the time of admission, students are expected to have these computer technology literacy skills and competencies: basic keyboarding skills and experience in using computer word processing, spreadsheet, presentation graphics, and the Internet. These expectations may be met by high school coursework. Effective Fall 2006, entering students who have not taken such high school coursework must complete a specified computer course addressing these skills and competencies within the first 42 credit hours attempted.

1 Advanced math includes algebra or any higher level math.2 Laboratory science includes biology, chemistry, physics, or other approved science courses in which there is a weekly lab period scheduled.

Applications from students with deficiencies are reviewed on an individual basis.

Admission to associate degree (two-year) programs is granted if you meet one of the following criteria:

Rank in the top 60% of your high school graduating class, OR Achieve an ACT composite score of 18 or above, OR Earn a cumulative GPA of at least 2.6 on a 4.0 scale.

Students enrolled in the two-year programs who have not met the minimum high school course requirements may enter a bachelor’s program only after they have satisfactorily completed:

At least 15 credit hours of the system general education requirements with a 2.0 GPA AND Met university minimum progression standards.

Transfer Students

You are considered a transfer student if you have college credits from an accredited institution and are six or more months beyond high school graduation. If you are currently enrolled at another institution, you can send partial transcripts and be considered for provisional admission until the final, official transcript arrives.

Students transferring from a degree seeking program at one Regental university to a degree-seeking program at another Regental university will be required to apply for admission.

Students who have been admitted to a degree-seeking or special program at one Regental university may register for courses at any Regental university without submitting another application.

Students who Transfer to Baccalaureate Programs

Transfer students who have completed 24 or more semester credits are eligible for admission if they meet the following requirements:

Have a 2.0 (“C”) or higher cumulative grade point average. Students entering the professional program in Education must have a 2.5 GPA. Admission to the professional programs in Nursing or Pharmacy is on a competitive basis.

Are in good standing with their most recently attended school.

Students with less than a cumulative 2.0 grade point average may be admitted on probation, but each applicant is considered on an individual basis.

Transfer students under age 24 who have earned fewer than 24 semester college credits must also meet the Freshman admission requirements as outlined above.

Students who Transfer to Associate Programs Students under 24 years of age transferring into associate degree programs with fewer than 12 transfer credit hours must meet the associate degree admission requirements. Students with 12 or more transfer credit hours with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.0 may transfer into associate degree programs at the discretion of the University.

Former Students

Former SDSU students who want to reapply for admission must submit official transcripts from all colleges attended since leaving SDSU. In addition, former students must submit another admission application if he or she has interrupted attendance by one or more semesters. Approval of admission is required by the dean of the appropriate college and the director of admissions.

Non-High School Graduates, including Home Schooled Students

Obtain an ACT composite score of 18, ACT English sub-test score of 18 or above, Math sub-test score of 20 or above, Social Studies/ Reading and Science Reasoning sub-test scores of 17 or above. Students must be at least 18 years of age, or the high school class of which the student was a member must have graduated from high school.OR Complete the General Equivalency Diploma (GED) with the total cumulative standard test scores for all five tests must total 2250 with no standard score below 410.

Non-Traditional Students

Applicants who are at least 24 years of age or older and who have not previously attended college will be admitted in good standing if they have graduated from high school or have successfully completed the GED with scores as indicated above.

Special Students

Students who are over 24 years of age and who wish to enroll with a partial load or who do not plan to work toward a degree may be classified as Special Students. Special students are not eligible to receive federal financial aid.

Concurrent High School Students

High school juniors and seniors may be admitted to SDSU as a concurrent high school student once you submit a concurrent admissions application complete with documentation of high school and parent approval. Concurrent high school students may not take more than two courses per semester.

U.S. Army Concurrent Admission Program (ConAP)

SDSU is a participant in the U.S. Army Concurrent Admissions Program (ConAP). This program allows a qualified applicant to be admitted to SDSU at the time they enlist in the U.S. Army. For more information contact the local U.S. Army recruiter or the SDSU Admissions Office.

Regental Policy for Transfer of Credit

Academic courses will be transferred as meeting graduation requirements if the courses parallel the scope and depth requirements for the degree or if the courses meet electives required for the degree. Credit will not be given for duplication of courses.

United States Regional Accrediting Associations North Central Association of Colleges and Schools, Western Association of Schools and Colleges, New England Association of Schools and Colleges, Northwest Association of Schools and Colleges, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools, Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Undergraduate transfer academic courses received from United States colleges and universities accredited by United States regional accrediting associations

All undergraduate transfer courses and all transfer grades (whether the grades are passing or not passing) must be recorded and an equivalency specified by the Regental university, calculated into grade point averages according to the Regental grade scheme, and recorded on the student’s academic transcript.

Remedial courses (as identified on the sending institution’s transcript) received in transfer are recorded, transcripted, and assigned an equivalency at the receiving university but do not calculate into grade point averages.

Transfer grades not existing in the Regental grading scheme will be equated to the Regental grading system. (Refer to BOR 2:10, Use of Grade Point Averages).

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed. In subsequent evaluations, grades previously recorded cannot be changed.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria.

Orientation, Life Experience, General Educational Development Tests, and high school level courses are not recorded in Colleague as transfer credit nor are they granted equivalent credit

High school courses for which students received college credit will not be entered as transfer credit, or given equivalent credit, unless validated by an Advanced Placement or CLEP score that meets Board of Regents guidelines for acceptance of credit or the college credit is granted by a university with which the Board has a dual credit agreement. This requirement is effective for high school courses taken after Spring term 2002

Undergraduate transfer technical courses received from United States colleges and universities accredited by United States regional accrediting associations

University discretion is permitted in acceptance of courses. Courses considered for transfer are subject to all BOR policies and any conditions for validation that may be prescribed by the accepting institution.

When the courses are accepted for transfer, equivalent courses are recorded on the transcript but the grade earned at the technical institute is not recorded or calculated into the grade point averages.

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed, reevaluated, or inactivated. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria

Graduate transfer courses received from United States colleges and universities accredited by a United States regional accrediting association

Graduate transfer courses and transfer grades, are recorded and evaluated by the Regental university, calculated into grade point averages according to the Regental grade scheme, and recorded on the student’s academic transcript ONLY if these transfer courses are equivalent to a specific graduate course at the university evaluating the credit.

Transfer grades not existing in the Regental grading scheme will be equated to the Regental grading system.

In subsequent evaluation, all equivalencies may be re-evaluated, inactivated, or changed. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated. In subsequent evaluations, grades previously recorded cannot be changed.

The university-specific plan of study requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria.

Transfer of courses from South Dakota postsecondary technical institutes is governed by BOR policies 2:25, 2:26, 2:27 and 2:28.

Transfer grades not existing in the Regental grading scheme will be equated to the Regental grading system.

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed, reevaluated, or inactivated. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria.

Other Technical Institutes

University discretion is permitted in acceptance of courses. Courses considered for transfer are subject to all BOR policies and any conditions for validation that may be prescribed by the accepting institution.

When the courses are accepted for transfer, equivalent courses are recorded on the transcript but the grade earned at the technical institute is not recorded or calculated into the grade point averages.

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed, reevaluated, or inactivated. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria.

Undergraduate and graduate credits received from United States colleges or universities which are not accredited by a United States regional accrediting association, and undergraduate and graduate credits received from United States colleges or universities which are not accredited by a United States regional accrediting association but are accredited by a national specialized accrediting agency recognized by the US Department of Education.

University discretion is permitted in acceptance of courses. Courses considered for transfer are subject to all BOR policies and any conditions for validation that may be prescribed by the accepting institution.

When the courses are accepted for transfer, equivalent courses are recorded on the transcript but the grade earned at the nonaccredited institution is not recorded or calculated into the grade point averages.

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed, reevaluated, or inactivated. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria.

Courses submitted in transfer from postsecondary technical institutes that are not accredited by a United States regional accrediting agency will not be accepted.

Undergraduate and Graduate Courses from Postsecondary Institutions outside the United States

Courses considered for transfer are subject to all BOR policies and any conditions for validation that may be prescribed by the accepting institution.

When the courses are accepted for transfer, equivalent courses are recorded on the transcript but the grade earned at the sending institution is not recorded or calculated into the grade point averages.

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed, reevaluated, or inactivated. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the courses transferred are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university and if they meet the minimum grade criteria.

Credit Received Through Validation Methods

Credit earned through validation methods other than nationally recognized examinations is limited to a maximum of 32 hours of credit for baccalaureate degrees and 16 hours of credit for associate degrees.

Validation of Military credit is limited to an additional 32 hours of credit for baccalaureate degrees and an additional 16 hours of credit for associate degrees.

Credit for college level courses granted through nationally recognized examinations such as CLEP, AP, DANTES, etc., will be evaluated and accepted for transfer if equivalent to Regental courses and the scores are consistent with Regental policies.

When validation credits are accepted, equivalent courses are recorded on the transcript but are not calculated into the grade point averages.

In any subsequent evaluation, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed. Equivalencies for unique courses may be changed, reevaluated, or inactivated. Additional equivalencies may be added and evaluated.

The university-specific degree requirements determine if the validation credits accepted also are applicable to the student’s degree program at that university.

When a course has been repeated for credit, all attempts will be entered on the transcript but the last grade earned will be used in the calculation of the grade point averages.

Total transfer credit for work at a junior, community college (2 year), and/or two-year technical college may not exceed one-half of the hours required for completion of the baccalaureate degree at the accepting institution. Students who have completed more than the acceptable semester hours of junior, community or technical college work may apply completed, transferable courses to specific course requirements and thereby may not be required to repeat the courses. The semester hours of credit for those additional courses may not be applied toward the minimum credit hours required for the degree.

System general education requirements successfully completed at the sending South Dakota Regental institution will be accepted towards meeting these requirements at the accepting South Dakota Regental institution. In any subsequent evaluation of any transfer or noncourse work, equivalencies for system common courses and system general education courses will not be changed.

Evaluations of courses will be made by the appropriate institutional officials at the time of admission by comparing descriptions, content, and level of courses completed with those at the accepting institution.

Each institution will develop and maintain a procedure for the appeal of transfer credit decisions.

A Regental internal transfer process occurs when an undergraduate course is used on a converted credit basis to meet graduate plan of study requirements at Regental universities or when graduate credit is used on a converted or actual credit basis to meet undergraduate degree requirements for a Regental accelerated program. Refer to BOR policy 2:8.3.A and 2:8.3.B.

Transfer between Regental Universities

Transfer between any of the six South Dakota Board of Regents universities has been further facilitated by the recent revision of the common course numbering system and the STUDENT Project. Most general education courses at all six universities now have the same prefix, course number, and title. This will help transferring students understand how their courses will most likely transfer. Please be aware that majors and colleges have specific program requirements that must be met. These can include a minimum grade for transfer, a course sequence, or a more advanced course.

Articulation Agreements

Technical Institute courses are designed to prepare students to enter the workforce for careers requiring less than a baccalaureate degree. Acceptance of these courses for credit at the South Dakota public universities is strictly the function of the receiving institution. Students who wish to transfer credits to a South Dakota public university for programs other than the Bachelor of Applied Technical Science degree should contact the Admissions Office of that desired university for an evaluation of their program objectives and technical institute transcript. An individual evaluation of course credits will be made by the receiving public university in accordance with institutional and Board of Regents policy.

South Dakota State University has established articulation plans with a number of technical institute programs. Articulation agreements also have been established with tribal colleges, regional community colleges, other colleges and universities, and selected international educational institutions. College deans assist students in determining the status of articulated courses.

Correspondence Credit

South Dakota State University will grant credit for correspondence courses from other colleges under the following circumstances: Limited credit for correspondence work may be applied toward a degree. Such credit will not be approved if the work is done while the student is enrolled in the University, unless arrangements have been made in advance with the dean of your college. Maximum acceptable credit by correspondence may be limited by the dean of the college you are entering. No credit will be given for correspondence courses in ENGL 101, 201, or 379 unless such courses are taken from a South Dakota Board of Regents institution.

A person not enrolled at SDSU who wants to earn credits by correspondence and apply them toward a degree at SDSU should consult with the appropriate college dean.

Servicemembers Opportunity College (SOC)

South Dakota State University has been designated as an institutional member of Servicemembers Opportunity Colleges (SOC), a group of more than 400 colleges and universities providing voluntary postsecondary education to members of the military throughout the world. As a SOC member, SDSU recognizes the unique nature of the military lifestyle and has committed itself to easing the transfer of relevant course credits, providing flexible academic residency requirements, and crediting learning from appropriate military training and experiences. Servicemembers Opportunity College has been developed jointly by educational representatives of each of the Armed Services, the Office of the Secretary of Defense, and a consortium of thirteen leading national higher education associations. It is sponsored by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and the American Association of Community and Junior Colleges (AACJC).

Admission with Advanced Standing

Students may be qualified to enter college at a level above the average freshman. Students may receive this advanced standing and/or credit through a variety of testing programs (see “Examination for University Credit”). The final decision in granting advanced standing and/or credit rests with the head of the department in which the credit is sought.

Admission of International Students on Nonimmigrant Visas

SDSU is dedicated to providing educational opportunities for students from abroad and has traditionally enrolled students from over 40 different countries each semester.

To be considered for admission, an international student must submit:

International Student Application

Official academic transcripts for all secondary and postsecondary education

Official score report for Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL)

Financial certification form/supporting financial documentation

Application fee of US $20.00

International students generally need to have a secondary or college transfer grade point average of 2.5 for engineering or a 2.25 for other majors. Transfer students from academic programs at other U.S. institutions must have completed at least 25 consecutive semester credits (37.5 quarter credits) at a single institution. A minimum score of 500 on the TOEFL is required for non-native speakers of English (minimum is subject to change). Applicants whose native language is English or those who are from a country where English is the only language are not required to submit results from a TOEFL.

SDSU may grant conditional admission to students who cannot meet the minimum TOEFL requirement. Enrollment would be contingent upon successful completion of a U.S. based intensive English program, including an exit TOEFL of 500 or above.

International students are required to purchase and maintain university approved health insurance for themselves and their dependents for the duration of their enrollment at SDSU.

SDSU regrets that it is unable to offer financial aid such as scholarships or tuition waivers to international students. Applicants must, therefore, show clear evidence of adequate resources for financing their program of study.

SDSU reserves the right to require advance deposits of estimated tuition, fees, and living expenses when warranted by prevailing foreign exchange difficulties.

International Students have a separate application packet. Complete applications must arrive by: June 1 to be considered for fall admission; October 1 for spring admission, for applicants outside the United States. Applications not meeting the deadline requirement for one semester will remain active and when complete will be considered for the next semester. Contact the International Student Affairs Office for the application packet and further information: International Student Affairs, SAD 101, SDSU, Brookings, SD 57007. Phone: 605-688-4122; e-mail sdsu.intlstud@sdstate.edu or fax 605-688-6540.

Policy for Transfer of International Undergraduate Credit

College level and advanced secondary level courses taken at international institutions will be evaluated for transfer consideration by an independent credential evaluation service and/or the appropriate institutional officials. Credit will be considered for transfer only when content is determined to be equivalent to SDSU courses. A syllabus from the international institution is required to determine equivalency. No elective credit will be allowed for courses not equivalent to SDSU courses. No English course will be accepted for credit from an international institution. For those international institutions that have an articulation agreement with SDSU, the agreement determines the courses that transfer full credit.

Transfer credit grades from international institutions will not be entered in the cumulative or semester grade point averages, but will be entered on the SDSU transcript as “P” (passing) grades. There will be a limit of 32 credits which may be transferred from international institutions determined to be vocational/technical level programs.

The only exception to the above-stated policy will be if the student earns credit through participation in programs sponsored by universities and member organizations with which SDSU has a South Dakota Board of Regents-approved agreement. Students earning such credit through an approved program will have the option of electing either the satisfactory/unsatisfactory (S/U) or letter grade option, provided the transcript, or its equivalent, as supplied by the partner university or membership organization, has letter grades recorded on it. The student and the student’s advisor, or department head or the International Affairs Director, depending upon the course/courses in question, will determine before the exchange takes place whether the S/U or letter grade option will be used. Such an agreement must be made in writing, with a copy sent to the SDSU Office of International Affairs for the student’s file.

Non-Native Speakers of English

The Michigan Test of English Proficiency will be administered to undergraduate non-native speakers of English. Testing may be waived with a score of a 600 or higher on the TOEFL.

Testing will be conducted prior to enrollment. Results will be used to determine whether a student needs to complete one or more support courses in English as a Second Language in addition to regular academic classes. The courses are designed to better prepare students for their academic program in general as well as for the English core curricula required of all entering students.

In order to establish residency for tuition purposes you must live in South Dakota for twelve consecutive months immediately preceding the first scheduled day of classes of the semester. Attendance at a college or university controlled by the Board of Regents does not count in determining the twelve month period of residence.

Qualifications for residency for tuition purposes may be obtained by writing the Director of Admissions, SDSU, Box 2201, Brookings, SD 57007.